Our moderators listened to every track we were sent this week and have picked their favourites for your listening pleasure this weekend:

Listening Post: Batch 529

Best Friend

Andrew Hartshorn Orchestra, Mikey J, written and produced by The Kintners. Mixed by Kelly Kintner

Hostage

Legend is a song for unity and justice - a call to end the killing around the world.
Dedicated to all who are suffering at the hands of warmongers or are suffering discrimination and abuse.
'Stop the killing'

‘Conflict divides but also unites, without division there is no life'. 
These are songs from the rain yet these are songs of hope, love and defiance. 

From the album Polarchoral by GRICE -  released November 4, 2022 
https://hungersleeprecords.bandcamp.com/album/polarchoral

Credits:
Grice: Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synths
Robert Brian: Drums
Luca Calabrese: Trumpet, Flugelhorn
BJ Cole: Pedal Steel Guitar
Al Swainger: Double Bass

GRICE online:
Website: www.gricemusic.co.uk 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gricemusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/gricemusic/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gricemusic
Youtube: www.youtube.com/gricemusic
Soundcloud: @gricemusic
Bandcamp: grice.bandcamp.com 
Burning Shed: burningshed.com/artists/grice_artists

POLARCHORAL

Legend

Listen & download

GRICE - Legend - (Radio Edit)

Illusion

Johnny’s on the Water was learned from the singing of Appalachian folk singer Jean Ritchie (1922 - 2015). It twists the archetypal story of a woman left behind by a sailor, the singer rejecting grief and finding empowerment: ‘if he can live without me, I can live without him’. This line became the heart of our arrangement. 

We created this arrangement in residence at Snape Maltings in 2022. In slowing down the tempo, destabilising the rhythm, and replacing Ritchie’s sparse dulcimer accompaniment with an ensemble of modular synths, guitars and affected strings, we explore the way that the open sea warps our understanding of time and distance. The trumpet solo was played by Lissie Daly, a tireless campaigner for women in brass.

Musicians:
Lauren Spiceley - fiddle and vocals 
Joseph Woods - guitar and vocals
Martha Wiltshire - cello and vocals
Denis Wouters - electronics and vocals
Lissie Daly - trumpet
Tom O’Connor - fretless bass
Florence Brady - vocals 

Trad. arr. by Lauren Spiceley, Martha Wiltshire, Joe Woods, Denis Wouters, Lissie Daly, Tom O’Connor and Hannah Jacobs
Recorded at Pony Studios by Upcycled Sounds
Mixed by Denis Wouters
Mastered by Felix Davis
Artwork by Floortje Kattemölle, photographed by Martijn Petrus

Johnny's On The Water

Single from upcoming EP written by Mared to be released in May 2024
produced by Nate Williams.
Mixed by Chris Hewitt
Mastered by Steven Kerry

lately

Taken from the forthcoming new album from India Electric Co. 
Released 5th April 2024.
Cole Stacey & Joseph O'Keefe.
After four years in the making India Electric Company present their third album Pomegranate.
From the grips of an underworld without concerts and shared experience comes to the surface an album built in the heart of the West Country describing a life very much in motion whilst in the grips of standing still.
It weaves through their musical heritage combining their traditional folk roots, their dalliance with electronic analogue synths along with rhythms cultivated in lands further afield and an unadulterated love of pop.

Pomegranate

India Electric Co. - Pomegranate - 06 - Balancing Act

But it’s the first singular thing you notice, 
Knee length socks so with lederhosen,
Fueling the flames of her desire…

Golden days, at a cottage in the Cote D’Azure
Sleeping in late,
Waking to the sweet smelling Galouises haze

Breakfast in bed, offers her a glass of German wine
I’m sorry my dear, it’s a little early for me,
Apologies I’m rocking on Bavarian time 

In the evening, she taught him to dance, 
Do the Charleston, a funny little turn for funny romance
Tired out they traipse back to bed, cliff top nightcap, watching the sun go down overhead (watching the sun go down)
	
Five nights
Becomes five days
But on the sixth, she wants to go

But the Fraulein
With her lovely little frown lines
Oh Mein Fraulein, don’t go!

But it’s the secondary thing you realise
Unkempt hair with roving bug eyes
Fueling the flames of his desire 
		
Five nights
Becomes five days
But on the sixth, she wants to go

But the Fraulein
With her lovely little frown lines
Oh Mein Fraulein, don’t go!

But it’s the most peculiar thing you notice
Sleazy smile and dubious motives
Finding it hard to say (I really wanna)
Taking the time to explain (That I really wanna)
That you are my only love and life

But I’m tired of feeling like nobody loves me!
Tired of letting my loving hang out!
Tired of taking another one down and out
(Down)
And Out

Mein Fräulein

Indie artists Kat Koan (Germany) and Freddie Dickson (UK) team up for their new song 'Time Alone.'

Release date - 20th March

Time Alone (Kat Koan & Freddie Dickson)

second hand living room

Here's one from the back catalogue!

[English below]
Mae fy mrawd a finnau wedi bod yn sgwennu caneuon gyda'n gilydd ers cyfnod hir rŵan. Dyma gân o'n "back-catalogue", wedi'i ysgrifennu nôl ym Metws-y-coed yng nghanol y 2010au, wn ni ddim pryd yn union. Roedd y gân yn poblogaedd iawn gyda'n gynulleidfaoedd ar y pryd (roedden ni'n berfformio o dan enw arall adeg yna). 

Buom ni'n recordio'r gân yn 2018 yn Rhydychen gyda'n ffrindiau, Nico a Jakes (sydd bellach yn berfformio o dan yr enw, Pecq, ewch i wrando arnyn nhw!), ond ni ryddhaom y gân oherwydd doeddwn ni ddim yn gigio lot gyda'r prosiect erbyn hynny, gan fod ni'n ddau yn bwy mewn dinasoedd gwahanol. 

Mae gennon ni prosiect newydd yn bellach, fel rydach chi wedi sylwi, felly, dyma chi'r gân "bwdl ldl lwm bwm bwm", o'r diwedd! Mwynhewch.

***

My brother and I have been writing songs together for a while now. Here's one from our back catelogue. We came up with this little ditty while jamming on the piano in our family home in Betws-y-coed at somepoint towards the middle of the 2010s, not sure when exactly. It was a hit with audiences at the time (we performed under a different name back then).

We recorded the song in Oxford in 2018 with our friends Nico and Jakes (who now perform under the name Pecq, checl them out!), but then we ended up not releasing it, because we weren't gigging that much with that band at the time due to us living in different cities. 

Since then, as you've noticed, we started this new project! :D So, the time came to release the "bobl lobl lom bom bom" song at last! Enjoy :)

Music video: https://youtu.be/VCpibcH2lDs
Smart link: https://kycker.ffm.to/mylove

My love, my love
is bigger than your whole world. 
It grows, it grows
and conquers everything
My heart, my heart
is beating just for you,
And for your love
I would do anything
      
I can't help it, I'm in love with you 
You're the only thing I want to do

My heart, my heart,
is hotter than the brightest star
It grows it grows,
and burns up everything
Your eyes, your eyes,
they carry me oh so far
And for one look,
I would do anything

For    your eyes
For    your heart
For    your love   
        
I can't help it, I'm in love with you    
You're the only thing I want to do

My love is bigger and brighter than anything
My love will set you on fire and burn you up
My love is bigger and brighter than anything
You can imagine

My love is bigger and brighter than anything
My love will set you on fire and burn you up
My love is bigger and brighter than anything
You can imagine

Credits:
Siôn Rickard - lead vocals, ukelele, main composer
Liam Rickard - backing vocals, guitar, bass
Niko O'Brien - drums, e-guitar, production
Hannah Jakes - keys, production

Recorded & produced in Oxford by Upcycled Sounds

My Love

Parasite - Angel B Valentine

A song about the relentless demands made by some people and the reaction. Comical, heavy, hard beats and basslines.

Written by China Shop Bull 2023
Recorded by Rob Hobson and John Yates
Mixed by Rob Hobson
Drums by Sam Tempest

Av It!

24 Forever

Opening track from the album Here Comes The Actual Band, out on 29th May.

Here Comes The Actual Band

When I Close My Eyes

Fresh On The Net is a music blog hosted by Tom Robinson and Team Freshnet, offering independent artists an open door and a level playing field for their music. Our inbox is open at http://freshonthenet.co.uk every Monday to Thursday morning - if you share a track with us there it will be heard by every member of our moderation team.

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Lo-fi Jones - 4-piece alt-folk-pop-indie band based in Machynlleth.
Enillwyr brwydr y bandiau gwerin 2023 yn yr Eisteddfod Cenedlaethol, a'r canu traddodiadol grŵp yn yr Ŵyl Pan-Celtaidd, 2024.
***
Winners of "Battle of the folk bands" at the National Eisteddfod, 2023, and "traditional group singing" in the Pan Celtic Festival, 2024.
****
Finalists on "Cân i Gymru"
***
Wedi'i gefnodi gan y Gronfa Lansio Gorwelion Cymru 2024
Supported by the Horizons Cymru Launchpad Fund 2024
***
Forged in slate and small-town angst in the foothills of Eryri by bearded brothers Liam and Siôn Rickard in 2020, Lo-fi Jones weave tales of love and loss in an ever changing landscape. Some highlights from 2023 include winning battle of the folk bands at the National Esiteddfod, performing at Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau and at the Swansea Fringe, competing in the final of Wales's annual Welsh language song competition, Cân i Cymru, and performing in the annual Mari Lwyd celebrations in Dinas Mawddwy. Lo-fi Jones's song "Slag Heap" from thier debut EP, "Llanast Yn Y Llofft" was nominated in the "best original English language song" category in the Welsh folk awards 2023. The band have appeared on S4C's Noson Lawen and have been featured in Y Selar and Fresh on The Net.
***
Cafodd Lo-fi Jones eu sefydlu yn 2020 gan Liam a Siôn Rickard, dau frawd barfog o Fetws-y-coed. Maent yn plethu straeon o gariad a cholled mewn tirwedd sy'n newid yn barhaus, gan fynd a’r gynulleidfa ar daith lle caiff momentau o addfwynder eu cyfosod â swrealaeth, anarchiaeth, ac awyrgylch parti.

Rhai o'r uchafbwyntiau Lo-fi Jones yn 2023 oedd ennill brwydr y bandiau gwerin yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, perfformio ar Gân i Gymru a Noson Lawen ar s4c), yn ogystal â Sesiwn Fawr Dolgellau, Gŵyl Ffrinj Abertawe, a Noson Y Fari Lwyd yn Ninas Mawddwy. Cafodd eu cân "Slag Heap" ei enwebu yn y categori "Cân Saesneg gorau" yn y Gwobrau Gwerin 2023. Mae cerddoriaeth Lo-fi Jones wedi cael ei chynnwys ar gylchgronau ar-lein Y Selar a Fresh on the Net.

My Love

Lo-fi Jones

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